Restaurant-Dining Critiques

On the second floor of the Eight Thonglor Building on the corner of Thong Lor and Soi 8 the sushi bar is on the left along with some well appointed private rooms and the Korean Barbeque Japanese-style is at the back and on the left.
Sushi-chu imports fresh seafood that is transported from Tsukiji, the best fish market in Tokyo, three times a week by air. They are able to do this since their head office is located in Chichibu, Japan and overseen by General Manager, Fukushima.
The sushi is absolutely fresh; they do not depend on anything else to embellish the taste.
The Japanese BBQ restaurant follows the original recipes from Tokyo Calbi House using special Calbi sauce. The Japanese BBQ chef is, 26 years old, Sutsakrn Wongtakee he has had 13 years experience in preparing meat.
It is also very pleasant that in this combo of restaurants you have the opportunity to start with sushi or sashimi as an appetizer and then follow with Japanese BBQ.
Carnival has a broad selection of Japanese Sake and Shochu.
The Japanese barbecue is certainly the best quality you can find in Bangkok and the sushi that is imported from Japan is fresh and excellent as well.
Now that there are two in different parts of the city it makes it more convenient to indulge in these great tastes of Japan.

Crêpes & Co. has two locations in Bangkok and serves Breakfast and Brunch everyday, anytime!

18/1, Sukhumvit Soi 12
Klongtoey 10110
Bangkok
Tel. (662) 653-3990 or 653 3991
Fax. (662) 653-3992

88 Soi Sukhumvit 55, Soi 8 (Thong Lor)
Klongton-Nua, Watana, Bangkok 10110
Tel. 02-726 9398-9
Website: www.crepes.co.th/
Opening Hours: daily from 10:00am until 11pm
8Thonglor building, ground floor
www.8thonglor.com
88 Thonglor Soi 8
Bangkok
Tel. 02-726 9398-9
Credit Cards: All Major
Prices: Inexpensive

The location on Sukhumvit Soi 12 is situated in an old Thai house and the space in the building on eight on Thong Lor Building is on the ground floor on the corner of Soi 8 and has a clean design with a “homey” atmosphere.
Crêpes served in twenty different ways both either:

Savory:
Cheese:
Feta. Gruyère, Cheddar, Blue
Meat & Fish:
Bacon, Egg, Ham, Prawns, Squid, Tuna, Chicken, Smoked Salmon
Sauces:
Béchemel, Blue Cheese Béchemel, Mushroom Cream, Onion Fondue, Tomato Sauce, White Wine Sauce, Bolognaise Sauce
Spices:
Chili Powder, Lime, Mixed Nuts, Olive Oil, Oregano

Sweet:
Fruit:
Banana, Pineapple, Apple, Fruit Salad, Melon, Papaya
Ice Cream:
Choc Chip, Chocolate, Coconut, Coffee, Orange, Rum Raisin, Strawberry, Vanilla
Sauces:
Caramel, Chantilly, Chocolate, Honey, Mango, Peach, Pear, Raspberry

Fresh Salads

The Four Seasons Hotel transformed their grand and elegant lobby into a New York Disco scene to celebrate New Year’s Eve. For a 2000 baht per person charge you could consume as much Champagne, red or white wine and cocktails as you fancied between 10:30 p.m. and 1 a.m. with the added attraction of two attractive female bartenders to do the stirring and shaking.

Afternoon Tea at the Four Seasons Hotel

My favorite place to visit in Bangkok when I require serenity, peace and tranquility is the magnificent lobby of the Four Seasons Hotel with its beautiful ceiling mural and soft music.
From 2pm - 6pm you may indulge in a full afternoon tea. Price: 880 Baht
It may include:
Savories
Chicken Salad on Brioche
Baby Potatoes Farci and Crispy Pancetta
Cheese Sandwich Wrapped with Forest Ham
Cured Salmon with Sour Cream and Roes
Marinated Tuna with Dill Tapenade
Sweet Bread Ragout with Truffle Oil on Parmesan Tart

Sweets
Mint-Infused Chocolate Square
Tangerine Fondant and Sesame Nougatine
Cointreau Glazed Fruit Cake Lolly Pop
Blueberry Financier
Strawberries on Breton Sable
Hazelnut Crème Brûlée
Granny Smith Macaroon
Grand Marnier and Chestnut Profiterole
Manuka Honey Castellan Cake with Coriander-Scented Jivara Mousse
Mango Cheesecake
Raisin and Plain Scones served with Clotted Cream, Strawberry and Rhubarb Jam

Teas
Black Tea – English Breakfast, Moroccan Mint, Supreme Ceylon Single Origin Leaf Tea, Earl Grey, Nuware Eliya Pekoe, Single Estate Darjeeling, Ceylon Silver Tips
Green Tea – Single Estate Oolong Leaf Tea, Sencha Green Extra Special, Jasmine Extra Special No. 1, Lapsang Souchong, Japanese Uji Natural Leaf
Fruit Tisane – Italian Almond Tea, Mediterranean Mandarin, Mediterranean Mandarin, Rose with French Vanilla
Herbal Infusion – Natural Rose Hip with Hibiscus, Organic Peppermint, Organic Camomile, Lemongrass Tea

Christmas at the Four Seasons Hotel

The interior decoration team accomplishes another brilliant design with ornaments of white and brown chocolate.

Q Bar Bangkok
#34 Sukhumvit Soi 11
Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110
Tel. +(662)252-3274
Fax. +(662)252-5366
www.qbarbangkok.com/

David Jacobson first opened Q Bar in Saigon many years ago and when the government’s interference became too intolerable, he moved the operation to Bangkok.
Q Bar has the most extensive stock of spirits and cocktails in Bangkok. They pour everything from Absinthe to Zubrowka!

They include a full page on their cocktail list of Long Island Iced Teas including variations such as the “Paris Iced Tea” (substituting Chambord for Cola) and the Q Bar original “Bangkok Iced Tea” (substituting Red Bull for Cola).
Q Bar features over 60 different vodkas from around the world, including the wonderfully intriguing Polish vodka Zubrowka (with the buffalo weed in the bottle), stored in their vodka freezer where the spirits are chilled to -19C, they also have 20 different tequilas, and over 30 special whiskeys.
The bar also features one of the largest selections of liquors in any freestanding bar in South East Asia. They pour a large drink, so it unnecessary to order a double, as you must do elsewhere in this part of the world where they pour you a thimble full, a standard 1.5 oz (45ml) in each standard drink is 50% larger than a normal drink found in Bangkok bars. They even have Absinthe that has just recently been legally approved as safe (see my post: http://www.restaurantdiningcritiques.com/wp-admin/post.php?action=edit&post=81). And, if you really don’t give a damn, try an American nightclub favorite the Jello Shot or the newest shot the Ice Shot that will definitely freeze your brain; and if at this point you don’t have a brain anymore, it will freeze whatever else you still have left!
In addition to their stock of Blended Whiskies, Rye Whiskies, Irish and Bourbon Whiskies, Whiskey lovers will find over 20 fine Single Malt Whiskies on the shelves ranging from the popular Laphroaig 10-yr.-old to Lagavulin 16-yr.-old, a total of over thirty special whiskies.

If you are planning to have a fun night on the town in the City of Angels, and what would hold you back, this is the place to head immediately after dinner!

Soi Cowboy, Sukhumvit 23, Bangkok
Tel. 02 258 4332
Opening Hours: 17:30 to Closing
Credit Cards: All Major
Prices: Moderately Expensive

This is Bangkok, afer all, and a great deal of tourists from all over the world travel here to check out the nightlife, in addition to the delicious and varied selection of cuisines available in Krung Thep.

Baccara is probably the best Go-Go Bar on Soi Cowboy (the entertainment area located between Sukhumvit Soi Asoke and Soi 23) flaunting a double decked dance floor with the upper floor constructed from glass so customers on the bottom level have a view of the girls on the top level who are dressed in school uniforms sans knickers and very often the uniforms suddenly dissapear. Girls in bikinis dance to the music on the bottom floor and there is also a Terrace Bar, which opens from 17:30 daily, directly in front of the Baccara where smoking is allowed.
The bar stocks a selection of Belgian, German and Japanese beers in addition to the local Thai choices. You may order a bottle of whiskey, or any other spirit and receive unlimited soft drinks and ice with your bottle order. Espresso coffee is also available.

48 Oriental Avenue, Bangkok 10500, Thailand
Tel. +66 (2) 659 9000
Website: www.mandarinoriental.com/bangkok/
Opening Hours: Lunch: Noon-2:30 p.m.; Dinner 6p.m.-10:30 p.m.
Credit Cards: all Major
Prices: Expensive-Very Expensive

After some time in the culinary doldrums, The Normandie Grill was dead-on at a recent lunch from beginning to finish, and that accomplished in spite of the closure of both of the city’s airports by protestors for more than a week. The only thing they could not deliver was a quince tart, although dozens of other choices were provided. I might add that the hotel was reporting the lowest occupancy in their history thanks to the political squabbling, which escalated to the point of practically shutting down the entire country.

We started with escargots and a puree of white bean soup moving right along to saute of St. Pierre, the fish being extremely delicate and enhanced by a light sauce and dollops of white foam and my companion had an incredibly delicious crayfish dish. The views of the river are spectacular from the narrow dining room and I am happy to report that the service, the cuisine including the desserts were all at the Michelin star level.

Pictured above on the right: Philippe Peretti owner of Philippe Restaurant, Bangkok, on the left: Herve Frerard, of Le Beaulieu Restaurant

Escoffier Dinner
1 December 2008

It turned out to be an excellent dinner with a great pairing of French cuisine by Philippe Restaurant presented brilliantly, by Chef and Owner Philippe Peretti and wines compliments of Gfour Co. Ltd.

Thanks goes to Peter Brongers, President of Escoffier Thailand Chapter, for all his effort in putting this gala dinner together.

The Menu including Wines and Grappa
Aperitif
Amuse Bouche
Prosecco Cuvee Torri  di Credazzo Follador

Langoustine Salad with Truffle Cappuccino
Pinot Grigio Liveo Felluga 2007

Roasted Cobia Kingfish Filet with Chorizo Risotto and Red bell Pepper Sauce

Trou Normand

Wild Boar Stew with Chestnuts
Boccadigabbia Pix Merlot 2001

Brie de Meaux Cheese with Truffles

Nougat Glacé

Coffee / Tea
Grappa La Centenara

Thanks to Gfour Co. Ltd. for the Wine Selection

Lenôtre Langsuan
Tel. +66 2250-7050 to 1
Lenôtre Siam Paragon
Tel. +66 2129-4365
Lenôtre Thonglor
Tel. +66 2382-0063
Lenôtre Sofitel Silom
Tel. +66 2238-1991
Opening Hours: throughout the day and until 10pm daily
Credit Cads: All Major
Prices: Moderate-Expensive

Philippe Chanut, Executive Pastry Chef Lenôtre Bangkok makes a large variety of exquisite pastries throughout the day to supply the four outlets currently operating in Bangkok. The cuisine has its ups and downs, although if you order carefully many dishes can be quite good and the staff is usually very concerned about the quality.
The pastries are always good even though the sugar level is a little too high for my palate however, this is Thailand and things have to be extra sweet to be acceptable for the Thai taste.

26 Soi 11
Tel. 02-651-3537
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30pm-midnight and until 1am on weekends
Dress Code: No shorts, sandals for men
Web site: www.bedsupperclub.com
Credit Cards: All Major
Prices: Moderate-Expensive
Set menu 1,250B-1,600B

If you can tolerate Asian-Med fusion food, and do not mind to dine in a most uncomfortable position while prone in a bed, you might find Bed one of the trendiest places in town, I personal despise it!  The decor is industrial style tubular, interspersed with neon lighting and throbbing repetitive sounds. The small adjacent disco is always jammed.